The Cavs have the #1 pick (never have the ping pong balls been so predictable). The consensus best prospect in the draft is Joel Embiid, whom I suspect the Cavs are planning on drafting with that pick. I'm sure they're exploring a possible trade for Kevin Love or some such big shot but I'm guessing the odds are better than 50/50 the Cavs end up with Embiid. But let me suggest another avenue for the Cavs.
Trade the #1 pick to the Bucks for the #2 pick, the #31 pick, Milwaukee's 2015 1st round pick (top 3 protected), Milwaukee's 2017 1st round pick and (just for good measure) Milwaukee's 2nd round picks for 2016, 2018 & 2019. Milwaukee takes Joel Embiid.
Then trade the #2 pick to the Sixers for the #3 pick, the #10 pick and Philly's 2017 & 2019 2nd round picks. Philly takes Andrew Wiggins.
Then trade the #3 to the Jazz for the #5 pick, the #35 pick and the Jazz 2015 1st round pick (top 3 protected) and Alec Burks. Utah takes Jabari Parker.
Orlando takes Dante Exum,
After that keep calling whoever wants the #5 pick. Who wants Julius Randle?
Will the Celtics throw in the expiring contract of Brandon Bass and a future 1st rounder along with the #6 pick or will they settle for Noah Vonleah? The Lakers would love to swap #7 but the Lakers don't have much to have to sweeten the pot (seems to me). Would the Kings be willing to toss in the expiring contract of Derrick Williams or a future pick to move up from #8? Would the Bobcats be willing to throw in a future pick along with the #9 pick?
If one of those teams bites, then keep trying to trade down. If you can't trade the pick, then select whoever is available: say, Randle at #5, Gordon at #6, Vonleh at #7, Harris at #8 or Smart at #9. Then take the best pick at #10 (say, Doug Mcdermott). With the 3 early 2nd round picks, draft whomever you've got your eye on (Deandre Daniels, PJ Hairston or Jarnell Stokes, for example) or nab Europeans that can be stashed overseas.
The Cavs could turn that #1 pick into 2 top ten picks, 2 early 2nd round picks, 2 lottery picks in 2015, a 1st round pick in 2017, six 2nd round picks over the next 5 years, and Alec Burks--and maybe more. (Way more if they're willing to throw Waiters, Thompson and Varejao into the trade talks) This is one of the most anticipated drafts of my lifetime and while it may be the most overrated, it seems to me that the #1 pick has extraordinary value. And so does the #2 pick and the #3 pick and the #4 pick. If the Cavs are smart and/or lucky they could maximize the hype of this draft by wringing future considerations out of one single pick.
Would that new GM rather build steady growth through the careful use of a trove of draft picks or just hope Joel Embiid is as good as advertised? Or that Kevin Love is worth the big big money you're gonna have to lay out for him? Incidentally the plan for the #1 pick I just laid out could be undertaken by whoever ends up with the pick; perhaps Minnesota could flip Kevin Love for the right the future draft picks of a half dozen other teams.
Is it better to have Kevin Love, Joel Embiid or 14 random players? In basketball you'd rather have the best individual talent than the most 'nice' players. Every NBA team has a lot of 'nice' players and in this scenario you'd like your chances of getting a good player in the future but its so more tempting to grab the good player that is in front of you right now.
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